Beet puller and topper.



D. OLSON.

BBET FULLER AND TOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI; 3o. 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH co.,v/ASH|NGTON. D, c.

D. OLSON.

BERT FULLER AND TOPPER.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE ao, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

3 SHBETSfSHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANoRAPl-x co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

D. OLSON.

BEBT FULLER AND TOPPER.

APPLIOATION I'ILED JUNBso,1913.

1,094,742, Patented Apr.28,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f -11-|:| mit im@ COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH :o wAsl-IINGTON, D. c.

UNITED @FQ DAVID OLSON, OF EL CAMPO, TEXAS.

BEET PULLER AND TOPPER- To LU vzc/om 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID OLsox, a citizen of the United States, residing at El Campo, in the county of lVharton and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet Fullers and Toppers, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in beet pullers and toppers, and an object thereof is the provision of a machine of this character which will pull the beets from the ground, and deposit them in a receptacle provided thereforA Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine of this character comprising a frame in which a plow is supported, the frame also carrying a pair of endless chains connected to the supporting wheels of the machine, one end of which is disposed above the plow, the inner stretches of the chains being disposed closely adjacent each other, whereby when the beets are removed from the ground, the leaves thereof will be engaged by the endless chains and moved rearwardly in the frame.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a beet puller comprising a frame in which a plow is supported, the frame also carrying an endless conveyer, one end of which is disposed adjacent the plow to grip the leaves of the beets as they are plowed from the ground, the frame also carrying a knife which is disposed below the endless conveyer at its rear end, the knife being adapted to cut the beets from their leaves and stems, whereupon the beets are carried by an elevator to a suitable receptacle, and the leaves and stems are discharged to the ground.

`With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the device with the frame partly in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation part-ly in section with the endless conveyer removed; Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in section showing the ele-` vator in dotted lines; Fig. et is a top plan view partly 1n section showing the conveyer in dotted lines; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the frame, showing the conveyer and eleva- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 30, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914:. Serial No. 776,670.

tor in dotted lines and the battle plate in full lines; F ig. 6 is a rear view of the frame; F ig. T is a detail view of the knife. F ig. 8 is a transverse section of the battle plate; and F ig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal section thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designates the frame of the machine which comprises a front axle Q and a rear axle 3 which are supported by the usual wheels 4f, the rear axle 3 being arched as at 5, intermediate of its ends, the bar G being suitably braced by converging rods 7 which extend from the rear axle and are connected at their forward ends to the bar 6. A conveyer frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending bars 8 is supported in the main frame, the rear ends of the bars being connected by a plate 9 which provided with a pair of upstanding slotted ears l0, the ears being connected to the arched portion 5 of the rear axle by suitable screws 11 which project through the slots in the ears. The bars 8 are connected intermediate of their ends by arched braces l2, the bars having connected to their forward ends the forked lower end 13 of a connecting rod 14E. Mounted upon the central bar 6 of the main frame above the connecting rod 14 is a rack bar l5, the upper end of the connecting bar being pivotally connected to ay lever 1G which is provided with a pawl l? for engagement with the rack bar, whereby the forward end of the conveyer frame is maintained in adjusted position. A vertically disposed shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in each of the bars S adjacent its lower end, the lower end of the shaft having fixed thereto a sprocket wheel 19, while the forward ends of the bars rotatably support the sprocket wheel 2l. Connected to the sprocket wheels 19 and 2l are a pair of endless conveyer chains 2Q, the inner stretches of which are disposed closely adjacent each other. To maintain the inner stretches of the chains closely adjacent each other, plates Q3 are disposed against the inner faces of the chains, and are suitably supported by the arched braces l2.

Connected to one of the rear wheels 4L of the -main frame is a gear wheel Q4, and supported in suitable bearings which are connected to the rear axle 3, is a rotatable shaft Q6, one end of which is provided with a pinion 27 meshing with the gear wheel 24. Mounted on the shaft 26 are a pair of oppollt) cured, the plow extending below and slightly forwardly of the sprocket wheels 2l, i

the plow being` adapted to pull the beetsout of engagement with the ground. so that they are in a position whereby the leaves and stems thereof may be grasped by the coni veyer chains and moved rearwardly in the .l frame. Connected to the lower faces of the 1 bars 8 at their forward. extremities are a pair of offset spring arms 32. the lower end of the arms projecting forwardly and slightly above ing on opposite sides the leaves of the beets and bunch thenl so that all of the leaves of the beets will be the row to gather the plow 3l, the arms travelpassed between the chains of the conveyor. i Mounted on the lower' extremity of one of l their forward ends before the beets are entlle'sllafts 1S of the sprocket wheels 19, is a circular knife 33, the edge of which is beveled and provided with a plurality of cutting teeth 531i, the knife being of relatively greater dianleter than the gear wheel 19 mounted on the shaft, so that the edge of the knife will span the distance between the inner spaces of the chains, and top the beets when they reach the rear end of the con veyer.

Supported below the rear axle 3 of the main frame by suitable straps 35 is the forl means of the transversely extending bars ward end of an elevator frame, the frame consisting of upwardly inclined side bars 86 which are connected at their forward. and rear ends by rotatable shafts 37 and 3S respectively. rfile rear end of the ele vator frame is supported on a cart 39 or other similar vehicle). the cart being connected to the rear axle 3 by supporting straps friet), and each of the side bars 3G provided with an outwardly extending supporting bar il by means of which the upper end of the conveyor is supported above the i cart 39. Connected to the shafts 37 and 3S are rollers d2 upon which is revolubly mounted an endless elevator apron d3, the outer face of wllich is provided with a plurality of transversely extending bars ile. rlhe shaft 37 projects beyond one side of the elevator frame, and mounted on the projecting portion of the shaft in vertical alinement with the shaft 2G is a sprocket wheel e5, the sprocket wheel -t being connected by a sprocket chain il-(i to a suitable sprocket wlleel l'i' upon the drive shaft 2G.l whereby upon rotation of the shaft 26 and upon movement of the frame, the shaft 37 is rotated to operate the endless apron of the elevator. flo distribute equal power to the nociones rollers l2 upon the shafts 3T anda second .sprocket wlleel ld is mounted upon the projecting portion of the shaft 3T, the sprocket wheel d8 being connected by a sprocket chain ell) to a sprocket wheel which is mounted on the projecting` portion of the shaft in the rear end of the elevator. The chain d6 is provided with a tightener il of any desired construction, whereby the chain may be always maintained in tight engagement with the sprockets il" and do. when the conv yer frame is moved 'into and out of en gagenlent with the ground.

ln the practical use of my device7 the main frame is drawn over the surface of the ground in any desired manner7 on the supporting wheels 4- with the plow 3l in engagement with the ground and in alinenlent with the row of beets planted therein. Upon forward movement of the machine, the leaves and stems of the beets are gathered by the spring arms in advance of the plo-w, and the plow raises the beets out of engagement with the ground7 the leaves being caught between the inner stretches of the chains ai tirely removed from the ground. The beets moved rearwardly ill the frame by the inner stretches of the chains which move rearwardly through the mechanism hereinbef-ore described, and when the beets reach the inner end of the convever frame, the beets are topped by the knife which disposed below the chains2 whereupon the beets drop upon the elevator, the upper stretch of which nloves upwardly through the mechanism upon the elevator apron by 44 secured to the outer face of the apron at intervals along its length. Ehe leaves and stenls of the beets are discharged from the conveyor rearwardly of the sprockets l), and to prevent the same fronl falling upon the apron 43 of the elevator, a baille plate 52 is disposed above the upper stretch of the apron. The forward end of the baille plate is disposed below the knife 33, the opposite sides of the balile plate bei ng bent downwardly as at l, and the baille plate entends entirely across the upper face of the eleva tor7 so as to discharge the leaves and stems over the sides of the elevator and prevent the same from passing into the cart 39. The lower extremity of the baille plate is provided with all upstanding flange 5% to prevent the leaves and stems of the beets from sliding downwardly thereupon over the lower edge thereof on to the apron of the elevator. A seat 55 is mounted upon the central longitudinal bar 6 of the main f ame, the seat being disposed in a position adjacent the handle of the lever 1G, whereby the operator upon the seat may readily move the lever lt to raise and lower the plow out of and into engagement with the ground.

lOO

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a beet puller and topper, which will automatically pull the beets from the ground, and top the saine and then deliver them into a cart o1' other suitable receptacle connected to the traine or' the device.

vWhat I claim is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a wheeled frame, an auxiliary frame including spaced bars, braces connecting such bars, one of such braces aiording a pivotal connection with the wheeled frame. digging means supported by a second of such braces, and a conveying means operatively supported by the auxiliary frame.

Q. A device of the character described comprising a Wheeled frame including an arched part, an auxiliary 'frame including spaced bars, braces connecting such bars, one of such braces being provided with ears adapted to project Within the arched part of the Wheeled frame, means carried by such arched part directed through the ears for pivotally connecting the auxiliary frame to the Wheeled frame, digging means supported by a second of such braces, a conveying means carried by the auxiliary iframe7 and means for adjusting the auxiliary frame about its pivot.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

DAVID OLSON.

--fWitnesses A. H. SMITH, EDD GREER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

